Men of South Yorkshire urged to give blood

A BLOOD donor from Sheffield is urging men in the city to sign up after new NHS guidelines were announced allowing males to give blood more often than women.

Women can donate only every 16 weeks, or three times a year, as they have lower levels of stored iron than men.

But NHS Blood and Transplant has announced new rules which allow men to donate four times a year, rather than three previously.

Medics reviewed practice from other countries where men are allowed to donate more frequently and decided to change advice to allow men to give blood four times, as long as they wait 12 weeks between donations.

The change could mean a potential 100,000 extra units of blood could be donated by men every year to help save and improve the lives of thousands of people across the country.

Neil Parfitt, aged 53, from Greenhill, Sheffield, who has been donating since he was 18, said: “It’s very easy to fit in giving blood four times a year.

“Think of all the people who will benefit from the extra blood donations - it may be a family member or friend who needs it.

“I make appointments for when I’m in the area so I don’t have to go out of my way or incur any additional expenses.”

n To book an appointment to give blood, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk